Augusta Christine Fells was born in Green Cove Springs, Florida, on February 29, 1892, one of fourteen children. Augusta grew up in a poor family and had no money to spend on toys. He would play in the back where he dug natural red clay from his yard and sculpted animals for him and his friends to play with. Although her father did not approve of this hobby, Augusta did not give up. After winning a prize at the local fair for his art, he was inspired to continue.
When Florida lacked the patronage and community she needed to thrive, Augusta moved to New York City. In the mid-1920s when the Harlem Renaissance was at its peak, Augusta made a name for herself. He was known for creating sculptures of famous people and later opened the Savage Studio of Arts and Crafts and became an influential teacher in Harlem. Augusta’s largest commission was for the New York World’s Fair in 1939. The piece was titled Lift Every Voice and Sing, The Harp. “The sculpture depicts a group of twelve black singers at graduated heights symbolizing the strings of a harp. The sounding board is formed by the hand and arm of God, and a kneeling man holding music represents the foot pedal.” – Smithsonian Art Institute. After the fair, the grounds were torn down along with his amazing sculpture. A symbol of the value of Black lives and Black art at the time. Even though he fought racism every day and still struggles financially, she never stops fighting for her students of color to be valued.
